High schooler becomes a celebrity

She’s only 16, but Angelina Marina Kalafatis became an instant celebrity among the Greek community in April when she was crowned “Miss Greek Independence 2007.”

It’s been a whirlwind of activities for the Danvers High School junior, beginning with one of the most important dates on the calendar, Greek Independence Day. Although it’s usually commemorated on March 25, the celebration had to be postponed until April 22 because of heavy rains that spoiled the day.

Myrna Fearer/mfearer@cnc.com

She’s only 16, but Angelina Marina Kalafatis became an instant celebrity among the Greek community in April when she was crowned “Miss Greek Independence 2007.”

It’s been a whirlwind of activities for the Danvers High School junior, beginning with one of the most important dates on the calendar, Greek Independence Day. Although it’s usually commemorated on March 25, the celebration had to be postponed until April 22 because of heavy rains that spoiled the day.

It was a beautiful Sunday for a celebration when it finally arrived, and Kalafatis was a feature at the event. She rode in the first float, like a princess with a tiara, dressed in her white junior prom dress accented by the sash proclaiming her status as Miss Greek Independence. It was topped by a blue cockade with blue and white ribbons. A blue cape, the color of the blue sky in the Greek flag, covered her shoulders, while the blue and white flag of Greece framed her slight figure as she waved to her loyal subjects.

“Being crowned Miss Greek Independence is a great honor in the Greek community,” said her mother, Emily Korkaris. “She will spend the coming year promoting the Greek religion, language and culture throughout the Greek community.”

For someone like Kalafatis, that isn’t difficult. The granddaughter of Nikolaos and Marina Korkaris of Danvers, she’s fluent in the Greek language and teaches at St. Vasilios Greek School, where she graduated in 2002. She also volunteers as a special needs aide at the school and dance instructor. In addition, Kalafatis has been part of the Hellenic Pride Greek Dance Group since 1997 and for the past four years, she’s been the group’s dance instructor and director’s assistant. She also is part of the Sons & Daughters of Alexander the Great Dance Group.

Since 2005, she’s worked as a Greek/English translator and interpreter.

To earn the title of Miss Greek Independence, the Danvers High School junior was up against a dozen other young ladies in the competition open to women from 16 to 21. Her closest competitor was a 21-year old, which didn’t faze Kalafatis.

This is a competition that requires more than just appearance. Anyone representing the community has to be able to converse and think in Greek, be steeped in Greek history and culture and navigate the steps in Greek dances. Judges also look at a competitor’s activities profile.

Kalafatis, who has been to Greece three times, not only excels in Greek activities, she is a solid honor roll student at DHS with academic awards. She participates in band, theater and chorus at the high school.

After successfully answering all the questions put to her in Greek, Kalafatis joined the other contestants on the dance floor to show off their Greek dancing style while the judges watched carefully.

“All the girls who were competing got in a line dance and had to lead,” said Kalafatis, who confidently added her own touches to the dance. “I kind of jazzed it up.”

“My heart was beating loudly,” her mom said, while waiting for the results. “I was wondering how Angelina was feeling.”

“At that point, I just wanted to sit down, my feet hurt,” Kalafatis said. “We had to keep dancing while the judges were deliberating. I was on my feet for several hours.”

And then it was over. There was Kalafatis, in what she calls her wonderful prom dress, no longer just Angelina Maria Kalafatis, Danvers High School junior, but “Miss Greek Independence 2007,” with a tiara on her head, a cloak on her back and a huge bouquet of roses in her hands.

Suddenly she was being featured in Greek newspapers, interviewed on Greek television and appearing on a float in Boston with Miss Massachusetts by her side, waving to her loyal subjects. Then she was standing on a reviewing stand flanked by Greek dignitaries from the church and Greek parliament, presiding over the Greek Independence Day celebration.

“I think her heart and soul are Greek,” said her mother, who also has an older daughter, Eleni, and a younger one, Christina. “The people of St. Vasilios are very proud of her.”

“One of my unspoken commitments is to be the voice of the younger generation to the Greek Federation,” Kalafatis said. “My goal is to go to the different Greek schools and meet the little Greek kids. I want to make them be proud to be Greek, to make them aware of their heritage.”